Pan-lifter.



J. DONNELLY.

PAN LIFTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25. 1914.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAIH Co., WASHINGTON. u. c.

JOSEPH DONNELLY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PAN-LIFTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 31, 1915.

Application filed May 25, 1914. Serial No. 840,771.

To all whom it may. concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH DONNELLY, acitizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Pan-Lifters, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to improvements .in pan lifters, the object of theinvention being to provide an improved construction of pan lifter whichmay be operated to grasp and lift hot pans without burning the hands.

A further object is to provide an improved pan lifter which is operatedby the grip of the hand upon the handle and upon a pivoted link to causethe movable jaw to move toward the fixed jaw and tightly grip a an.

21 further object is to provide a pan lifter of simple, inexpensiveconstruction, strong and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in certainnovel features of construction and combinations and arrangements ofparts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal sectionillustrating my improved pan lifter in gripping position on a pan. Fig.2 is a view in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in sectionon an enlarged scale on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a similar viewon the line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a similar view on the line 55 ofFig. 1. Fig. 6 is a similar view in section on the line 66 of Fig. 2.

1 represents a handle which is provided at one end with a fixed jaw 2,said jaw being slightly beveled as shown to allow it to be readilypositioned against the inner face of the pan indicated at 3.

Movably mounted on the handle 1, is my improved jaw 4. This jaw 4 iscomposed of two pieces of sheet metal 5 and 6, secured together by arivet 7, and having their forward edges flared apart forming flanges 8,which together constitute a gripping surface cooperating with the fixedjaw 2 to grip the side of the pan 3 between them.

The movable jaw 4 is provided with an angular sleeve 9 mounted to slideon the handle 1. This sleeve 9 is formed by bending the upper portionsof the plates 5 and 6 as shown clearly in Fig. 4, and the said plates 5and 6 are slightly offset at one end forming perforated ears 10 toreceive one end of a relatively short link 11 which is pivotallyconnected to the movable jaw by a rivet 12 extending through saidperforated ears 10, and through the link 11. A relatively long link 13is pivotally connected at one end to the handle 1 by means of a rivet 14which extends through the link 13 and through perforated ears 15integral With the handle. The other end of the link 13 is pivotallyconnected by a rivet 16 to the shorter link 11. A spring 17 is connectedto the handle as shown in Fig. 1, and at its free end bears against thelink 13 normally holding the links in the position shown in Fig. 2, andhence normally holding the movable jaw away from the fixed jaw. A lug 17integral with handle 1, limits the upward movement of the link 18,preventing the movable jaw from being forced against the fixed jaw whenthere is no pan between the jaws. In other words, this lug is inposition to be engaged by the link 13 and limit its movement toward thehandle 1. The handle 1, where it receives the sleeve 9, is rectangularin cross section as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

The main portion of the handle is somewhat rounded to afford a smoothcontact with the palm of the hand, and at the juncture of the flatportion 18 with the rounded portion of the handle, a shoulder 19 isprovided which limits the movement of the movable jaw. The movable jawis provided with a recess 20 which is so located as to accommodate theordinary bead 21 provided on most types of pans used for cookingpurposes, and hence the jaws are allowed to come close together ingripping the side of the pan.

It will be noted that the jaws 2 and 4 are inclined relative to thehandle at the ordi-,

nary angle of inclination ordinarily given pans of the type used instoves, and hence the surface of the pan is firmly gripped.

To operate the device, it is simply necessary to grasp the handle 1 withthe fingers pressing against link 13, and when the link 13 is drawntoward the handle, the removable jaw 4 will be forced toward the fixedjaw 2, and when pressure is relieved, the spring 17 will draw themovable jaw away from the fixed jaw.

Various slight changes might be made in the general form and arrangementof parts described without departing from my invention, and hence I donot limit myself to the precise details set forth, but consider myselfat liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall Withinthe spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

' 1. A pan lifter, comprising a handle having a fixed jaw at one end, amovable jaw mounted to slide on the handle, a link pivotally connectedat one end to the handle, a

second link pivotally connected at one end to the movable jaw, saidlinks pivotally connected, and a spring exerting pressure on one of thelinks tending to draw the movable jaw away from the fixed jaw,substantially as described.

2. A pan lifter, comprising a handle having a fixed jaw at one end, amovable jaw mounted to slide on the handle, a link connected at one endto the handle, a second link connected at one end to the movable jaw,said links pivotally connected, a spring exerting pressure on one of thelinks tending to draw the movable jaw away from the fixed jaw, saidmovable jaw comprising two sheet metal plates riveted together, andhaving an angular sleeve formed by bending said plates, said sleevemovable on the handle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOSEPH DONNELLY.

Witnesses:

ELIZABETH V. MARTIN, EUGENE M. JEANNISSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C.

